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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2016 12:34:43 GMT -5
Another Blair Witch Project - I just can't believe what I'm reading here from BaB!
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Post by impulse on Jul 27, 2016 13:13:08 GMT -5
Another Blair Witch Project - I just can't believe what I'm reading here from BaB! My initial reaction is similar to when I first heard of the planned Independence Day sequels: About 15 years too late for anyone to care. But unlike Independence Day, I am not sure there was ever a time anyone would have wanted more Blair Witch Project movies. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2016 15:10:26 GMT -5
Another Blair Witch Project - I just can't believe what I'm reading here from BaB! My initial reaction is similar to when I first heard of the planned Independence Day sequels: About 15 years too late for anyone to care. But unlike Independence Day, I am not sure there was ever a time anyone would have wanted more Blair Witch Project movies. That's true ... |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jul 28, 2016 6:00:00 GMT -5
The idea has potential, because of the modern omnipresence of go-pro cameras and the new tendency of filming just about any acitivity we're engaging in.I believe the original Blair Witch Project might even have worked better today than in the '90s, because today we wouldn't wonder why these kids keep filming despite what they're going through.
What made the first film so successful, however, is how much it played with our willing suspension of disbelief. The extras really sounded like non-actors, which made the documentary aspect of the film more believable, and nothing looked like it required special effects. The viral campaign orchestrated on a fledgling internet really made us wonder how much of the story was true, which was creepy as all get out. As I recall, at the time, I checked the website of the town of Blair, and it had a section on the Blair Witch, which was said to be an actual local legend. The disappearance of the young filmmakers was also mentionned. The town had played along, and it was really well planned, and very convincing! Even when you thought the film was a fake, there was still the possibility that it was inspired by real events.
This new trailer, I regret to say, just sounds scripted. The actors' declarations are just typical horror movie fare. It might make for a good scary story, but we know all of it is fake right from the start, which kind of goes against what a Blair Witch movie should be about.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 4, 2016 22:21:34 GMT -5
I normally don't bother writing comments on the newer films I've seen but this one is quite....different The Lobster starring Colin Farrell, John C. Reilly, Rachel Weisz. Just released on DVD A dystopian future where loners are placed in a hotel and have 45 days to find themselves a romantic partner. If they fail they will be transformed into an animal and live in the woods. Colin Farrell escapes and joins a band of loners who live in the woods. Only here you are forbidden to make love and if caught would result with bodily mutilation Its got a cold, tense atmosphere about it. I felt a atmospheric similarity to the movie Fahrenheit 451. The loners are socially awkward and it results in some unplanned comedy. But it 's such a WTF? type of film that will stay in your memory. I wonder what is the animal no one wants to become  |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 9, 2016 23:57:31 GMT -5
A tension packed film recently released on DVD, Eye In The Sky starring Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman and Aaron Paul Satellite surveillance camera's capture the images of 3 top terrorist operatives in a Kenyan home. Also seen is a man being armed with a suicide belt, ready to go out and cause untold damage. The moral question of releasing a Hellfire missile into the home and eliminating this threat, but also causing collateral damage to some innocent nearby civilians is the crux of the film Tension-filled and quite thought provoking. Highly recommended (R6.jpg) |
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Post by brutalis on Aug 26, 2016 8:41:56 GMT -5
Had the car in the shop for tune-up/etc yesterday so while day off from work figure see the new Ben-Hur. While it was well made and worth viewing, it will not go down in the classic sense and added nor detracted from the original Heston version. Suffers from the current ideal of more is better and CGI enhancing. While Jerusalem was visually spectacular and the chariot race thrilling and able to show off stunts unable to do in the classic it was the story which suffered the most. Using too much television style fast edits and cuts and modern vernacular at times. Was still enjoyable and a must see on big screen for the more visual aspects.
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Post by Gene on Sept 2, 2016 22:01:06 GMT -5
I just got home from seeing Don't Breathe. It definitely lives up to the hype as one of the most shocking horror movies of the year. The last twenty minutes or so are pretty hard to watch.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Sept 4, 2016 9:34:10 GMT -5
Just watched two recent movies that really surprised me... Where to invade next and requiem for the American dream. Both illustrate how Big Money and the American Dream are, surprisingly enough, at odds with each other. I say surprisingly because Big Money generally presents itself as the real defender of American values, with those pesky unions and socialists being the enemy. You know, "freedom equals absence of government regulation", "taxes are evil" and all that.
The Michael Moore film is naturally painted with broad strokes, cutting corners and everything... But the gist of its arguments is actually sound. It's true that drugs are decriminalized in Portugal, and that no drug armaggedon has ensued. It's true that hardcore criminals are treated very, very decently in Norway, and the country hasn't become Hell on Earth. (I honestly had no idea that such a carceral system could work at all, and from a moral standpoint I find the concept of not seeking revenge at all unnatural... but it seems to work).
The film about Noam Chomsky is naturally deeper, but it uses very simple facts and very simple ideas. Even if nothing the man says actualy comes as a big surprise (most of it we had all figured out for ourselves), to hear his arguments stated like that one after the other is bound to get anyone really angry about the way the system is working.
Highly recommended.
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Post by berkley on Sept 5, 2016 1:33:24 GMT -5
Just watched two recent movies that really surprised me... Where to invade next and requiem for the American dream. Both illustrate how Big Money and the American Dream are, surprisingly enough, at odds with each other. I say surprisingly because Big Money generally presents itself as the real defender of American values, with those pesky unions and socialists being the enemy. You know, "freedom equals absence of government regulation", "taxes are evil" and all that. The Michael Moore film is naturally painted with broad strokes, cutting corners and everything... But the gist of its arguments is actually sound. It's true that drugs are decriminalized in Portugal, and that no drug armaggedon has ensued. It's true that hardcore criminals are treated very, very decently in Norway, and the country hasn't become Hell on Earth. (I honestly had no idea that such a carceral could work at all, and from a moral standpoint I find the concept of not seeking revenge at all unnatural... but it seems to work). The film about Noam Chomsky is naturally deeper, but it uses very simple facts and very simple ideas. Even if nothing the man says actualy comes as a big surprise (most of it we had all figured out for ourselves), to hear his arguments stated like that one after the other is bound to get anyone really angry about the way the system is working. Highly recommended. Haven't seen the Michael Moore movie but the Chomsky one was excellent, IMO. I had much the same reaction as you: even though the concepts aren't new, especially if you've read some Chomsky already, or seen a few interviews, they're presented in such a clear and simple way that it's very effective. I was a bit saddened by how old he looked - made me wonder if there's anyone from a younger generation amongst the American intelligentsia to take his place. Whatever you might think of his ideas, there's no denying that he presents them in a plain, sober manner that renders them easy to grasp without (IMO) over-simplification (which I fear Moore is sometimes guilty of). Personally, I think interviews, whether in print or in videos or documentaries like this one are where he's at his best. I find most of his other books disorganised and meandering, and a bit of a struggle to get through at times, even though I'm very interested in the subject matter and in full agreement with him much (though not all) of the time. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Sept 5, 2016 9:06:41 GMT -5
Just watched two recent movies that really surprised me... Where to invade next and requiem for the American dream. Both illustrate how Big Money and the American Dream are, surprisingly enough, at odds with each other. I say surprisingly because Big Money generally presents itself as the real defender of American values, with those pesky unions and socialists being the enemy. You know, "freedom equals absence of government regulation", "taxes are evil" and all that. The Michael Moore film is naturally painted with broad strokes, cutting corners and everything... But the gist of its arguments is actually sound. It's true that drugs are decriminalized in Portugal, and that no drug armaggedon has ensued. It's true that hardcore criminals are treated very, very decently in Norway, and the country hasn't become Hell on Earth. (I honestly had no idea that such a carceral could work at all, and from a moral standpoint I find the concept of not seeking revenge at all unnatural... but it seems to work). The film about Noam Chomsky is naturally deeper, but it uses very simple facts and very simple ideas. Even if nothing the man says actualy comes as a big surprise (most of it we had all figured out for ourselves), to hear his arguments stated like that one after the other is bound to get anyone really angry about the way the system is working. Highly recommended. Haven't seen the Michael Moore movie but the Chomsky one was excellent, IMO. I had much the same reaction as you: even though the concepts aren't new, especially if you've read some Chomsky already, or seen a few interviews, they're presented in such a clear and simple way that it's very effective. I was a bit saddened by how old he looked - made me wonder if there's anyone from a younger generation amongst the American intelligentsia to take his place. Whatever you might think of his ideas, there's no denying that he presents them in a plain, sober manner that renders them easy to grasp without (IMO) over-simplification (which I fear Moore is sometimes guilty of). Personally, I think interviews, whether in print or in videos or documentaries like this one are where he's at his best. I find most of his other books disorganised and meandering, and a bit of a struggle to get through at times, even though I'm very interested in the subject matter and in full agreement with him much (though not all) of the time. His body language seemed to say "I failed. The bad guys won". It was very moving, and not a little disheartening. When it comes to organized labor, Chomsky seems willing to overlook the excesses that union can also be guilty of (in Canada, where many laws protect the rights of the workers, I certainly have had more reason to be upset at my union than at my employer...) But it is true that neo-liberalism is currently on a rampage, and that the greatest problem the world faces right now isn't the power of unionized labor at all, but the near absolute control of the economy by the financial sector. |
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Post by Prince Hal on Sept 5, 2016 17:21:20 GMT -5
Had the car in the shop for tune-up/etc yesterday so while day off from work figure see the new Ben-Hur. While it was well made and worth viewing, it will not go down in the classic sense and added nor detracted from the original Heston version. Suffers from the current ideal of more is better and CGI enhancing. While Jerusalem was visually spectacular and the chariot race thrilling and able to show off stunts unable to do in the classic it was the story which suffered the most. Using too much television style fast edits and cuts and modern vernacular at times. Was still enjoyable and a must see on big screen for the more visual aspects. I'm not a huge fan of the 1959 version overall, but one thing you can say: those were real guys and real horses driving real chariots in the race. Yakima Canutt beats CGI evry frikkin' time. (And his son Joe was very lucky not to have been killed during the filming.) |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 10:37:05 GMT -5
Oopsie -- "new & upcoming."
As you were.
EDIT: Though I guess I could note that the universe apparently did its best to prevent me from watching the perfectly adequate zombie-ish film Quarantine: L.A. It's been on "very long wait" in my Netflix queue under the alternate title Infected for several weeks, which tells me they probably bought about one copy for the entire nation. Turns out it was available at a Redbox about 5 miles from my house, so I reserved it there ... only to find out when I got there that not only did it not show up as reserved, it didn't show up as being in that machine at all, not even among the grayed-out "no longer available" discs.
Soooo, off I go to another nearby Redbox that supposedly had it. Which, indeed, it did. My mission would've been accomplished if the Redbox had recognized my debit card, but nooooooooo. After replacing said card twice in about 3 weeks because the magnetic strip had stopped working (though the chip functioned just fine), I'm apparently in the cards (no pun intended) for a 4th version. *sigh* So I head home in order to change the card I use for Redbox (theoretically I could've done it on my phone, but I'm nowhere near proficient enough to handle such procedures in that matter), & 10 miles later I actually have the disc in hand. (And codes for 5 free rentals in my email after I called & threw a conniption with the poor Redbox customer service guy.)
At least the movie wasn't horrible. "Perfectly adequate" is a, uh, perfectly adequate way to describe it, though I suspect it would fall short of even that low bar for anyone who isn't a hardcore zombie film fanatic.
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Post by Rob Allen on Sept 6, 2016 17:56:39 GMT -5
At least the movie wasn't horrible. "Perfectly adequate" is a, uh, perfectly adequate way to describe it, though I suspect it would fall short of even that low bar for anyone who isn't a hardcore zombie film fanatic. For those who are hardcore zombie film fanatics, check out this one. I know some of the people who made it and attended the premiere: www.hellbendermedia.com/Features_FOMF.html"High concept and low budget intersect in Flesh of my Flesh, a gory zombie romp filled with bullets, betrayal, and bloodshed — and that’s before the zombies get involved!" |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2016 14:03:45 GMT -5
I'm planning on seeing Sully this upcoming Friday and report back how good it is.
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